Ringing in the holidays for the
first time from Washington, President Trump lighted the national Christmas
tree on Thursday evening, wishing the country “a merry Christmas” — as he vowed
to do during his campaign.
Taking part in the annual ritual,
Trump counted down from 10 before his wife, Melania, pushed a button to set the
tree aglow.
“Today’s a day that I’ve been
looking very much forward to all year long,” said Trump. “And now, as the
president of the United States, it’s my tremendous honor to finally wish
America and the world a very merry Christmas.”
During his campaign, Trump had
promised that, when he was elected, people would be saying “merry Christmas
again,” a reference to what he characterized as the country’s obsession with
political correctness. In Trump’s view, the move toward the use of the more
inclusive “happy holidays” phrase minimized the Christian celebration.
Speaking from behind a bulletproof
glass enclosure, Trump also bragged about the mild weather, which hovered in
the mid-50s, and compared himself to President Ulysses S. Grant, who signed
legislation making Christmas a federal holiday.
“I sort of feel we’re
doing that again,” Trump said to an audience that included many of his family
members.
The program, which
will air Monday on the Hallmark Channel, was hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and
actor Dean Cain and featured performances by the Beach Boys, Jack Wagner,
Wynonna Judd, Craig Campbell and others. It was a less high-profile lineup than
last year, when the performers included Kelly Clarkson, Garth Brooks and Trisha
Yearwood, Marc Anthony, Yolanda Adams, the Lumineers, James Taylor and Chance
the Rapper.
This year marks the
95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting. The tradition began in 1923 with
President Calvin Coolidge and takes place in President’s Park, just south of
the White House.
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